Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Editorial boards Using Open Calls: A Case Study of the Experience of the Journal Microbiology Spectrum

Abstract

Note: Data from this paper was previously presented as a podium presentation at the 12th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference on Friday, October 14, 2022; virtually at the ISMTE 2022 Global Event on Wednesday, November 2, 2022; and as a poster at the Society for Scholarly Publishing 45th Annual Meeting on June 1-2, 2023.

Traditionally, editorial boards are built by a journal’s leadership, which reaches out to its network of colleagues and identifies individuals to nominate. However, this can result in a number of biases, from regionalism to difficulty in fostering scientific diversity. In contrast, an Open Board means that any and all qualified applicants can apply to join. Whether or not the applicant knows someone on the leadership team has no bearing in the selection process; selection truly comes down to the applicant's merits. An Open Board is welcoming and promotes diversity and inclusion. It also encourages applications from individuals who are genuinely interested in contributing to the journal and its mission. In this case study, we discuss how the Open Board approach was used at the American Society for Microbiology to build a large and diverse board for our newest journal, Microbiology Spectrum. As a result of our open call, we built a large, multi-national board comprising over 300 microbiologists. In addition to geographic diversity, this approach has allowed us to factor in topical expertise, gender balance, and racial inclusivity when building an editorial board. Herein, we report both the benefits and challenges of building an editorial board using this approach.